Good Morning Friends,
Today is Black Friday marking the beginning of the Christmas Shopping Season. And no, it is not a religious holiday. Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day and though its underlying focus is Christian like it is not a religious holiday either. Maybe we have too much feasting going on. Anyway, I watched a bit of the Macy’s Parade listening to the Rolling Stones Song, “Paint It Black” and a street filled with dancing Wednesday Addams. Very clever. And then I watched the Rockettes dancing as if they were synchronized swimmers. Again, very clever for the underlying images were in keeping our heads above water, being, and facing financial death without fear together. Perhaps that will be the challenge when our time comes as well. But it all leaves us with a question about where we place our hopes in the meantime. So, Do You Recognize the Authority of Christ As Your Security?
Scripture: Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Luke 21:29-33 (NRSV)
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be let out for a little while. Then I saw thrones, and those seated on them were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony to Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Revelation 20:1-4, 11—21:2 (NRSV)
Message: During times like ours somewhat like the times when today’s scripture was written, God calls His people to trust in Jesus, to live carefully, to be watchful and to pray through the troubled times. For the time will come when the Devil will be bound up and tossed into the Bottomless Pit beginning and a thousand years of Blessedness. The image the man of Patmos paints is of a world where Christ triumphs over evil and presents more than an American Dream of financial security but a Land of Heart’s Desire where every moral value is maintained. We are not there yet, but people are looking to find this kind of peace. They are looking for some assurance, some peace of mind that they can hold on to. But we live in a time where world events shake our inner peace. And people feel out of control and get angry easily. In Luke 21 Jesus had something to say to his disciples about the uncertain and troubling times that would come to them, and it can apply to us now too. We too will have to consider where we find our security and if it is not in Christ then we will be disappointed. The message is that we are to stand firm in our witness in order to gain life. We are to seek first the Kingdom of God which is not of this world.
And So, Jesus’ second coming in a way may be like the Holy Spirit descending on us through the clouds like a dove at Jesus’ baptism binding the devilish behaviors we have inside of us and giving us real security and peace. Indeed, the end of the world as we know may be near and we need to watch out for the deceivers. We need to be careful and not be distracted by worldly things. Even what we will eat or drink or wear for the authority of our salvation is in the hands of Jesus and not in the hands of human authority. Even the church does not guarantee the presence and protection of God. our security is in Jesus alone. And when the time of the Gentiles is complete, which seems to be sooner all the time, we need to be ready. Jesus is telling the disciples and us that God requires the fruit of righteousness for a new life, of peace and joy.
Pray as Christmas approaches thatwe do what is right in the power of the Holy Spirit now. Pray we trust that God has planted the fruit of the Spirit in us. Pray that we hold onto our faith in Christ’s authority as our security. Pray we do not fear. Pray for our home to be righteous. Pray we do not trust in our own works but the work of Jesus for the fruit belongs to the one who planted it in us.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 